http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Ontario+approves+environmental+assessment+Ottawa+light+rail+tunnel/3409731/story.html
Ontario approves environmental assessment for Ottawa light-rail tunnel
BY ROBERT SIBLEY, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN AUGUST 17, 2010
OTTAWA — It’s full steam ahead for Ottawa’s LRT, says Mayor Larry O’Brien, following the McGuinty government’s acceptance of the environmental assessment on the multi-billlion dollar transit project.
“Environmental assessment approval is a major milestone for this critical project,†Mayor Larry O’Brien said Tuesday.
In a memo Tuesday afternoon, John Jensen, the city’s director of rail implementation, informed the mayor and council that the provincial environment ministry approved the LRT’s environmental assessment.
The assessment examined the potential impact of a 12-kilometre light-rail transit line from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station, including a three-kilometre tunnel through the downtown from LeBreton Flats to the University of Ottawa. The project is estimated to cost $2.1 billion.
Ottawa has secured funding commitments of $1.2 billion from the provincial and federal government. For its part, the city has to raise at least $900 million.
The city submitted its environmental project report to the province in June. The report examined everything from noise and vibration levels to air and water quality. It also considered the preservation of vegetation, wildlife and heritage sites along the route, including the Rideau Canal.
Project proponents were quick to applaud the province’s decision.
“This, combined with $600 million in previously announced provincial funding, and matching support from the federal government, is a strong indication that the city’s light rail vision is on track,†said O’Brien.
The mayor praised city staff and fellow councillors, particularly Counc. Alex Cullen, for their work on fast-tracking the environmental assessment. “He (Cullen) has done a splendid job on the transit.â€
For his part, Cullen, chairman of council’s transit committee, said the province’s endorsement “represents an important step to bringing this project to construction. A rapid rail line through a downtown tunnel is the solution to Ottawa’s transit challenges, and the project’s approval by the province is a significant step forward in making Ottawa’s LRT future a reality.â€
O’Brien, meanwhile, said that with the environmental assessment in hand, along financial commitments from the provincial and federal governments, the city will proceed with obtaining engineering design bids for the rail line, tunnel and stations.
The Tunney’s Pasture-Blair Road project is first phase of a larger, $5.6-billion transit master plan that’s been split into two parts over the next two decades.
The first phase, costing about $3.7 billion, is itself divided into three parts — the $2.1-billion Tunney’s-to-Blair line, which is to be completed by 2018 and operational in 2019; a second phase that includes extending a rail line from Tunney’s Pasture to Baseline Station (assuming there’s money available); and, third, a line from Bayview to South Keys that would replace the existing diesel O-Train with electric rail. These latter two projects are estimated to cost about $1 billion each.
O’Brien expressed confidence the first-phase project will be kept within budget. “I think we’re on pretty solid ground†regarding project costs, he said. “Financing is always an issue but we’ll cut the sui to fit the cloth as we go foward. But as far as I’m concerned this project is a go.â€
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